Totally Confused

Maybe you are on a line running directly into the exchange and not via a PCP?

In my local area fortunately for the houses right by the exchange there is a green cabinet sitting right next to the exchange, so they managed to get FTTC

For FTTC, your line must connect via a PCP (cabinet) rather than being direct to the exchange ('exchange only' line) and the PCP you are connected to must have a FTTC cabinet connected to it with a spare port.

The exchange being enabled is not enough - your cabinet must be enabled.

Exchange Only lines and getting FTTC are rare unless you live in a few parts of Cornwall or possibly North Yorkshire. Outside that so rare I stand as much chance winning £10,000 by popping out to buy a scratchcard.

http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/fibre/checker.php if the exchange was announced by December 2011, that link will give a break down for the postcode.

It might also be worth noting that being close to the exchange doesn't mean OpenReach will decide to upgrade the cabinets. I am about 250m from my exchange and have been told that my cabinet will not be upgraded. I have also noted that many (maybe all) the properties between me and the exchange also have no access to fibre.

My guess (unsubstantiated) is that because we are close to the exchange and get good ADSL speed, OpenReach may decide that the takeup for fibre will be lower than areas further away with poor speed at the moment.

In reply to a post by MrFied:

My guess (unsubstantiated) is that because we are close to the exchange and get good ADSL speed, OpenReach may decide that the takeup for fibre will be lower than areas further away with poor speed at the moment.

Pot luck really. In my town we have a row of houses directly opposite the telephone exchange, connected to a cabinet, fibre available. I'd be very surprised if they didn't get at or near 24 meg on ADSL2+.

Why is it so rare for exchange lines to be FTTC enabled? Can't equipment just be installed in the exchange for the exchange lines?

VDSL2 from the exchange is not allowed under the protection limits imposed by the UK's analogue network frequency plan. This protection exists to keep the various services that can be delivered over a metallic pair from interfering with each other.

VDSL2 from the exchange is not allowed under the protection limits imposed by the UK's analogue network frequency plan. This protection exists to keep the various services that can be delivered over a metallic pair from interfering with each other.

This is more by omission than design, IMHO. ie the exchange based masks are still the original ones and the use of exchange based VDSL is yet to be considered.

There are many profiles to choose from and exchange based VDSL is used in other countries and offered by several vendors.